Construction Craftspeople Apprenticeship in Nigeria: From the Lens of Apprentices

The construction industry is facing a shortage of skilled workers worldwide. This shortfall can be addressed through the construction craftspeople apprenticeship system, which has not received significant attention in developing countries like Nigeria. This study aims to explore the experiences of apprentices in construction craftspeople apprenticeship programs in Nigeria. Data were collected using questionnaire surveys and interviews. Astructured questionnaire was distributed to thirty-two apprentices across two construction craftspeople apprenticeship programs in Nigeria, and sixteen interviews were conducted. The survey data were analyzed using the Relative Importance Index (RII), while data from the interview were analyzed using content analysis to identify key themes. The findings revealed that the primary motivators for individuals to pursue apprenticeships in the construction sector include the desire to work in the construction industry, the opportunity for skills and ability development, and the opportunity for income and associated benefits. Conversely, the major challenges faced by apprentices include limited job availability after completing their apprenticeship, poor or nonpayment of allowances, redundancy during training and inadequate training quality. These findings are significant for construction stakeholders as they highlight the need for strategies to encourage young people to engage in apprenticeship training while addressing the challenges faced by apprentices.